September 17, 2024

This document from Alverno Laboratories provides key updates on laboratory testing procedures for healthcare providers. Effective August 26, 2024, Quest Diagnostics will no longer accept serum specimens for amylase isoenzyme testing, now requiring plasma collected in lithium heparin tubes. Alverno also announces a change in rectal HPV molecular testing, replacing the current test (HPVAR) with a more comprehensive one (HPVRE), with an automatic reflex to HPVAR if HPVRE is positive. Additionally, the document clarifies bile acid testing options, offering three distinct tests for various clinical scenarios, including a specific screening for pregnant women at risk of obstetric cholestasis.